Title

Interviewee

Interviewer

Violeta Domínguez

Project

Bracero Oral History

Biographical Synopsis of Interviewee

Homero López was born in 1934, in Petatlán, Guerrero, México; he was the second of three brothers; his stepfather taught him to work in agriculture, and, at the age of eight, he planted beans, corn, and peppers; he continued these activities until he was seventeen, and then moved to Mexico City, México; in 1954, he joined the Bracero Program; he worked in Arkansas, California, New Mexico, and Texas picking cantaloupes, cotton, sugar beets, and tomatoes.

Summary of Interview

Mr. Lopéz recalls growing up in Petatlán, Guerrero, México, and learning from his stepfather how to work in agriculture; he remembers planting beans, corn, and peppers from the age of eight until he was seventeen; additionally, he relates how he moved to Mexico City, México, and why he decided to join the Bracero Program in 1954; he describes the hiring process he went through, the legal requirements he needed to fulfill, the train trip to the border, and the different contracts he had; as a bracero, he worked in Arkansas, California, New Mexico, and Texas picking cantaloupes, cotton, sugar beets, and tomatoes; he details what his daily life on the farms was like, the treatment they received from foremen, and the food they were given; furthermore, he expresses what braceros did during weekends, the trips they took to town, and what they did for hobbies; he continues to explain why some braceros deserted the farms, and what were some of their complaints; moreover, he relates what things he liked about the United States, why he decided to live in Mexico City, México, and why he remembers his time as a bracero positively.